Article

Joshua planning for heavyweight ´legacy´ – starting with Povetkin

18 July 2018 15:38

Anthony Joshua wants to cement his legacy in heavyweight boxing in "chapter two" of his career, starting with his fight against Alexander Povetkin.

Deontay Wilder has long been negotiating with Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn, while Jarrell Miller confronted the British boxer at a DAZN media event in New York on Tuesday, but a mandatory bout with Povetkin is up first at Wembley on September 22.

IBF, WBA and WBO champion Joshua (21-0) is happy to take on the Russian, though, as he targets another decade of dominance in the sport.

"I've always done it for fun. I've had fun with it because I preferred the lifestyle it presented me," the 28-year-old told a news conference at Wembley. "Now, I'm dead serious about this business.

"I used to concentrate on the opponents and I was always worrying about what was next. It was, 'I don't want to make mistakes with this opponent.' I started boxing within myself, I stopped expressing myself.

"Even though I have these titles, it's about proving your stock worth every time you fight. It's not just about Povetkin, it's not just about Wilder, it's about me, my legacy and reaching my potential.

"All comers are welcome and, in this chapter, my mindset is different because I understand what I'm involved in. Alexander is the first person on my list.

"I think I've got 10 years left in boxing and I want to cement my legacy."

Joshua, who burst into the public eye with his gold medal in the super-heavyweight division of the 2012 Olympic Games, views his plan to become part of boxing folklore as similar to surviving a tournament set-up.

"I feel like, right now, I'm back in a tournament stage, where I have to get through Povetkin and I have to get through Wilder and I have to get through who's next in order to create this legacy," he added.